Left clothes in the washer...help!

MrsJJC · August 2009

So I've perused the Internet looking for solutions, but does anyone have any tips for what to do with laundry that was left in the washer too long? It's been crazy around here and I COMPLETELY forgot that I had a load of laundry in the washing machine...they were there for days and the clothes smell disgusting!

I've re-washed about 3 times...no dice. I've used baking soda in the detergent, I've washed with JUST vinegar, and I even took the clothes out and set the washer (front loading) to "clean" with bleach so that the mildew in the washer was gone. Then I re-washed...nope, still stinky.

I have all the clothes laid out in the sun hoping to kill the mildew/mold spores before trying to wash them again.... I'd throw some of the clothes out, but there are a few items in this load that DH would be SO sad to lose. :-(

Any other suggestions?

Chris71678 · August 2009

Don't feel bad, I've done that before too. What has worked best for me is to rerun the load with color-safe bleach and detergent. Not sure if that will help you, but at this point I guess it is worth a shot.

leighanneh · August 2009

FIll a trash bag with baking soda and let the dry clothes sit in there for several days, shaking the bag once a day. Then wash with vinegar or maybe oxy-clean if you have it..

I have a special needs student whose parents must blow their cigarette smoke directly on him for 24 hours a day and we tried all of the methods you mentioned to get rid of the smoke smell and nothing worked. Then we did the above and it worked! It might be worth a try.

~NB~ · August 2009

Try washing them in Borax.

Janice12543 · August 2009

Rewash and ad a half cup of vinigar

JanieJones · August 2009

hang them to dry in sunlight, and then re-wash. ?It'll work like a charm!

sherah727 · August 2009

Febreeze. I use it all the time in the laundry when it just doesn't smell right. I add it to whatever detergent and fabric softener. Also, with this try a presoak.

xnickerx · August 2009

I am ashamed to say this is me. I am infamous for leaving loads in the wash.

I found you have to fully dry them before you wash them again- hanging in the sun is great but it rains so much that I end up tossing it in the dryer, just until dry and not super hot, and it works fine as well.

Then wash with regular soap and teensy bit extra oxi. And don't forget it a second time. Or a third. Indifferent

lotsofbustles · August 2009

I think you need to use the power of soaking. ?I use biz, just put a little more than the normal amount of of biz and laundry detergent in the washer with the clothes turn the washer on but leave the lid open so it will just fill up and stop. ?Then let it sit over night and close the lid when you wake up. ?That should do it.

HTH?

Temp6313048411121614 · August 2009

I do that all of the time it seems. I just rewash with a bit of bleach (even colors, just a TBSP or 2 will work, not enough to mess anything up). I've never had a problem and only have to rewash once.

lauriebride07 · August 2009

Febreeze works for me!

polkadots · August 2009

yes use color safe bleach, whisk, and your regular detergent. i have done the same thing.

scwheal1 · August 2009

Freshwave makes this stuff that you put in the during the rinse cycle of the wash. Works like a charm...got a nasty mildewy smell out of our towels! They sell it at Bed Bath and Beyond.

kloving · August 2009

OdorKlenz Laundry - It's unbelievable. I know someone who used it for this same thing. I've only seen it online and a couple of local stores.

www.odorklenzlaundry.com

steenbean18 · August 2009

Odorzout!! Recommended by "the queen of clean".

http://www.88stink.com/

nov26 · August 2009

This is an unconventional method, but one that works really well. We had some towels that we left in the wash and tried nearly all of the above methods. It is a product designed for RV holding tanks. It basically neutralizes the odor and the bacteria causing the smell, rather than trying to mask it with Febreeze. (it actually lists clothing as a use on the website) It is called Happy Camper. http://www.5starhappycamper.com/

MrsJJC · August 2009

Wow! Last time I checked this board, I had about 5 replies so I went with mostly those suggestions. I thought I'd let everyone know what ended up working for me:

left clothes to dry in the sunlight - 1/2 an hour on each side to kill the mold spores that were causing the stench

Ran the washer on the "clean" cycle with bleach only (I have a front loader with a clean washer setting) - this cleaned out the mildew in the machine itself

re-wash the clothes with regular Tide, some chlorine safe bleach, and a vinegar rinse (which I do all the time anyway as a fabric softener)

After this, they didn't really stink at all anymore so i went ahead and put them in the dryer and all seemed well after that! :-)

george8141 · September 2014

I think by far the best product for musty odors(we all have them) is OdorKlenz Laundry additive. just add it in with your detergent and they will be gone for good. their website is www.odorklenz.com and here is a coupon code to use at checkout for 20% off customerfirst

marleyjustine · November 2014

I recently published a blog post (Fix Smelly Towels) related to laundry odor. While the post is looking at product build up in towels and how that creates smell, I'm convinced baking soda and vinegar are miracle workers when it comes to cleaning.

I was recently told that tea tree oil is supposed to be great at fighting laundry odor, so I'm going to be looking into that one.

Marley
www.marleyjustine.com

Left clothes in the washer...help!

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